About Broken Signal
What you will find on Broken Signal
Most projects are built with weekend operators and tinkerers in mind. If you are the kind of person
who likes to read the manual only after something smokes, you are in the right place. Content on
Broken Signal usually falls into a few buckets:
- HF antennas, end-fed half-wave builds, and practical on-air testing on 20 meters and 12 meters.
- Digital modes like FT4 and FT8, with an emphasis on repeatable workflows instead of magic settings.
- Software defined radio and shortwave listening, from casual band-cruising to more focused signal hunting.
- Meshtastic and low-power RF projects that connect people without relying on big infrastructure.
- Smart home and ESP32-based builds, including Home Assistant, sensors, and custom control projects.
- Solar and backup power experiments for radio, networking, and keeping the shack running when the grid is not.
- Retro gear, oddball radios, and the occasional trip down technology memory lane.
- AI-assisted builds and tools where it makes sense, especially for planning, testing, and automation.
How projects and reviews are done
Broken Signal is builder-first. Projects are built, measured, and used before they are written about
or filmed. When a new antenna or device shows up, it gets tested on the air, not just on paper.
When a feature is confusing, that confusion is part of the story instead of being edited out.
You will see clear steps, honest pros and cons, and plenty of real-world context so you can decide
if a project fits your station, budget, and time.
Who Broken Signal is for
Broken Signal is aimed at curious people who like to learn by doing:
- New hams who want practical guides instead of theory-heavy textbooks.
- Experienced operators looking for fresh antenna ideas and station upgrades.
- Shortwave listeners who enjoy chasing signals just to see what is out there.
- Tech hobbyists who like mixing radios, code, smart home gear, solar power, and AI tools.
- Anyone who prefers seeing real experiments, including the mistakes, over polished marketing demos.
The person behind Broken Signal
Broken Signal is created by Danny Davis, callsign KD5W. Danny
has held an Amateur Extra class license since 2004 and has been active in ham radio for more than
twenty years. He spends as much time building antennas and tinkering with gear as he does operating,
and he has been a shortwave listener since long before waterfall displays made it easy.
By day Danny builds enterprise applications in C#, working with the .NET ecosystem to design and
ship software that has to be stable and reliable. That same mindset shows up on Broken Signal:
projects are tested, measured, and documented so you can follow along without guessing.
Away from the bench, Danny enjoys being outside, fishing, gardening, and taking on too many DIY
projects around the house. Those side hobbies often turn into new ideas for future videos and
articles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Broken Signal?
Broken Signal is a ham radio, tech, and DIY site and YouTube channel that focuses on real-world
builds, antenna experiments, SDR, Meshtastic, smart home projects, solar power, AI tools, and
practical guides you can repeat at home.
Who runs Broken Signal?
Broken Signal is created by Danny Davis, callsign KD5W, a professional C# developer and Amateur
Extra class ham radio operator who has been licensed since 2004 and active in radio and shortwave
listening for more than twenty years.
What topics does Broken Signal cover?
You will find HF antennas, 20m and 12m operating, FT4 and FT8 workflows, SDR and shortwave
listening, Meshtastic networks, smart home and ESP32 projects, solar and backup power experiments,
retro gear, and AI-assisted builds where they are genuinely useful.
How can I follow or support Broken Signal?
You can subscribe to the Broken Signal YouTube channel,
follow @brokensignal_ on TikTok,
and support future projects through Buy Me a Coffee.